Neill was born in Smethwick and was educated at Holly Lodge County Grammar School in that town. On leaving full-time education, he entered training as a Chartered Accountant and qualified at the age of 21.

Spotted during his year as governor, The late Neill Hill A

fter a short time in professional practice, he accepted a post in industry and made that his career.

Having specialised in industrial accounting he progressed into general management and was, for many years, managing director of a group of engineering companies based in the West Midlands. It is of interest that the group was owned by a charitable trust and that profits, by way of dividends, were devoted to charitable causes. Following the early Eighties recession,

the group of companies was sold and Neill exercised the option to return to general practice as a Chartered Accountant. He started his own practice, Neill Hill Accountant. Neill had a great love of music and was,

for many years, the church organist at Providence Mission, Smethwick; St Johns, Harborne, and in later years as a relief organist at many local churches. Neill joined the Rotary Club of

Halesowen in 1978 and was president of the club in 1981/82. As soon as his year finished, he embarked on turning his talents to helping District 1060, joining the District Vocational Service Committee in 1982 and becoming chairman for two years from 1983 to 1985. Following his years on Vocational Service, Neill became vice-chairman of the district from 1985 to 1988 and then took on the role of district governor in 1988/89.

Neill was soon approached by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland and joined the RIBI Finance committee in 1989, becoming the RIBI Honorary Treasurer from 1993 to 1996. During the years 1989 to 1998, Neill served on many RIBI committees including the RIBI Conference and Assembly committees and the GB &#38; I Institute committee. Then, in 1998/99, he became president of RIBI. During his year of office, Neill and wife Maureen, travelled the whole of Great Britain and Ireland and had many highs visiting the 29 Rotary districts. The event that gave them the greatest pleasure was the RIBI Conference, held in Dublin, with one of the largest attendances for many years with over 4,500 registered. The lasting memory of Neill for the many Rotarians in Dublin will be

the little girl in the red hat, pictured here. Neill was also asked to serve

Rotary International as a member of the Functional Literacy Task Force, International Preserve Planet Earth Committee, which he chaired in 1991/92, and as chairman of the International Rotary Village Corps committee. Accompanied by Maureen, Neill also represented the President of Rotary International at district conferences. Neill and Maureen were married in

1958 and had two children, Andrew, who has a son and daughter, and Liz. Liz is a past president of the Rotary clubs of

Spotted during his year as governor, Neill was soon approached by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland and joined the RIBI Finance committee in 1989, becoming the RIBI Honorary Treasurer from 1993 to 1996.

both West Bromwich and Birmingham. Liz played a big part in the organisation of the Rotary International Convention in Birmingham in 2009, as a member of the Host Organising Committee and, this year, she has been appointed as an Assistant Governor for District 1060. Neill and Maureen worked as a team,

whatever Neill’s commitments in Rotary, and I know they are both proud that the example they set is being carried on by their daughter. District 1060 and Rotary International

have been truly blessed to have had Neill helping promote the ideals of our Rotary movement. He will be missed but remembered with affection. n